KABUL, Afghanistan, March 23, 2010 -- The Afghan National Army graduated 81 medical students in a ceremony held at the Afghan National Military Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, today.
The graduating class, which was the second one in the history of the Afghan National Army, consisted of laboratory technicians, radiology technicians, preventive medicine specialists and nurses.
"This is a wonderful day for Afghanistan," said Navy Cmdr. Christine Hunt, Medical Embedded Training Team mentor at Afghan National Military Hospital. "Without the students' hard work and dedication, today would not be possible."
The students are very intelligent and earned high marks in their year-long course of study, said Afghan National Army Col. Mohammad Hossain, commanding officer of Allied Health Professions Institute, which oversees the medical program.
"It was very difficult course, but it was a great course," said Afghan National Army 2nd Lt. Mohammad Amin, who graduated as a preventive medicine specialist.
The graduated technicians and specialists will be sent to Afghan units across the country to support the Afghan National Security Forces' mission by providing critical health care and prevention measures to its fighters.
However, the graduation is not the end for the students. It is only the beginning. They have to continue to improve in their professions and work hard to rebuild their country, said Amin, who will perform his duties with Afghanistan's commando forces.
"I am happy to serve my people," said Amin. "I want to be a good man and a good doctor to serve my country."
The Afghan instructors and coalition forces mentors view education as the foundation of a new Afghanistan, said Hunt.
"Remember, you are an example to all the young people in Afghanistan, and you are the future of Afghanistan," said Hunt in her comments to the students during the ceremony.
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